ARLINGTON, Va. -- Johan Hedberg will start in goal for the Devils when they face the Washington Capitals again tomorrow afternoon at the Verizon Center.

Hedberg was in goal for the Devils' loss to the Islanders last Saturday at Nassau Coliseum. He is 2-1-1 this season with a 1.71 goals-against average and one shutout.

The Devils defeated the Capitals, 3-2, last night in Washington in the first half of rare back-to-back games in the same city other than in the playoffs.

"I think this is the first time in my NHL career playing away-away games that's not in the playoffs," Devils captain Bryce Salvador said after the team practiced at Kettler Iceplex. "It's interesting but it's enjoyable. The guys were talking about it. We like it. It's a nice feeling to be here and have that little rivalry two games in a row."

Even facing Alex Ovechkin twice?

"No, that's not going to be fun," Salvador said. "In the first period there he was all over the place. I don't know how many breakaways he got. He was getting some pretty nice bounces. On the other hand, it's enjoyable, believe it or not, playing against those guys. They keep you sharp. It's a great challenge to try to keep those guys off the boards. It's one of those things I like doing.

"When possible you try to limit his time and space. Some of those players like him, he's able to create some offense when it's really not there. That's what makes him so good. He's just got the speed and the energy and obviously the way he competes. You just pray he's having an off-night."

Ovechkin has had a few off-nights this season. He did not score Thursday night and is now scoreless in three straight games.

"Right now the team is struggling so there is a lot on his shoulders because he really wants to do it. I could see it in his eyes. He was trying his best," Ilya Kovalchuk said. "He was flying around trying to hut guys. A couple breakaways. It's going to go in."

Kovalchuk said Ovechkin never comes to him for advice.

"Not really. We talked yesterday a little bit but he's one of those guys who is never going to give up," Kovalchuk said. "He's just going to try harder in practice. There is no doubt in my mind he's going to turn it around."

The two Russians often bring out the best in each other with face-to-face competition.

"Yes, you wan your team to win," Kovalchuk said. "We know if Russia a lot of people are watching these games. For sure it gives you a little extra jump. It's healthy."

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Kovalchuk played 28:58 Thursday night, with 13:45 of it coming in the third period.

"The way he does it is amazing," Salvador said of Kovalchuk's ice time. "What did I play, 25 (minutes)? And I needed an oxygen tank. But not him. He's a skating forward who's played that way his whole career. That's what he thrives on. When you've been doing that for so long, your body is conditioned to play like that."

Kovalchuk said he wasn't tired.

"Actually I felt much better in the third period, to be honest with you," he said. "I think the first two periods were kind of slow. Pete (DeBoer) told us we have to bring a little more emotion and a little more energy. I think we did that. That's why they took all those penalties and we won the game."

Kovalchuk played less ice time in Russia's KHL.

"In Russia it's different. The rink is bigger," he explained. "You skate way more than here, so it's kind of the same."

DeBoer said: "He's got an engine that I've never seen on a hockey player before. You watch him get stuck out there on a two-minute power play and all of a sudden he'll take another rush and find another gear when you have no idea how he's still managing to get around the ice. He's a special athlete."